Echocardiogram - Why It Is Done

Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)

Look for the cause of abnormal heart sounds
(murmurs or clicks), an enlarged heart, unexplained chest pains, shortness of
breath, or irregular heartbeats.

Check the thickness and movement
of the heart wall.

Look at the heart valves and check how well they
work.

See how well an artificial heart valve is
working.

Measure the size and shape of the heart's
chambers.

Check the ability of your heart chambers to pump blood
(cardiac performance). During an echocardiogram, your doctor can calculate how
much blood your heart is pumping during each heartbeat (ejection fraction). You might have a low ejection fraction if you have
heart failure.

Detect a disease that
affects the heart muscle and the way it pumps, such as
cardiomyopathy.

Look for blood clots and
tumors inside the heart.

A transthoracic echocardiogram may also be used
to:

Look for
congenital heart defects or to check the effectiveness
of previous surgery to repair a congenital heart defect.

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